Tiyanni had been a bit worried when Istin had been brought from Caer Brynmor to try to impress Lucifidth – who had already flown the coop, so to speak. There had been an akward pause as Jeyann explained that the last of Xiorayith’s brood had chosen the solitary path.
Suddenly, the small male dragon in question came cackling out of the sky, and snatched up the young man – but not his baggage.
We’ll be seeing him again soon. Do not worry. Mezireth informed them all from where she rested on the Hatching Sands.
* * *
Time passed, and a late heat wave made things a bit uncomfortable at Ryslen – and more so the hatching grounds – but the queens there didn’t mind. Indeed, it seemed they welcomed it. Saktishanatath mostly, though the snowflakes upon her hide would have made some guess otherwise.
The eggs began to rock, and the candidates were called, and the excitement increased as Sasiath too retreated from her clutch. Another double hatching?!
On the right sands, the first egg cracked in a time-tested manner – straight in half. From the shell came Sakish in miniature – but without snowflakes. The new iridescent green strolled right up to the candidate of her choice. Aliyssa, I am Sipcyth. Wouldn’t Ketrenal be surprised?
The second egg to hatch came from Sasiath’s clutch on the leftmost sands, and the occupant was a firey male – literally. The red dragon awed his audience as he strutted towards his choice.
Naeodin had a few choice words as well, but Tiyanni laughed it off, saying: “The dragon will choose”
And he did. Let us go, my precious, before someone steals our spotlight.
Grace looked to Kimball, then knelt before the red. ”You want me, Zaltierth?”
Of course.
At that instant, a commotion above stole away the spectators attention as Lucifidth appeared with Istin in his claws. He backwinged and landed carefully in the space Sasiath had vacated. Istin was pinned to the sands – a place he did not want to be.
The eggs would not wait, and the second egg from Sakish’s clutch ruptured, spilling an iridescent blue out onto the sands. I believe, he said as he righted himself, that the one I seek is here.
One candidate looked up – he was used to being ignored; more or less forgotten, but it seemed the blue was talking directly to him.
Kardaren, my name is Ivsibarth, and I believe in you.
Another egg nearby hatched, and a Light blue stepped forward, unfurling his wings. “Adrilankhath…” Chae murmured in awee, and the hatchling oriented on him. Hello Chae.
The largest egg in Sasiath’s clutch shattered explosively, drawing attention to the hatchling that now stood on the sands in it’s stead. Gold, just like her mother.
Naeodin breathed a sigh of relief – with such a tiny clutch, she’d feared there would not be a queen egg. But her breath was soon caught in her chest as the new gold walked solemnly towards the candidates. The eyes of those young women were on the gold. Suddenly she pounced, knocking a giggly Mara Mia – or rather, Istabitha – to the sands.
”Her name is Lollaseth!”
When Naeodin exhaled, Tiyanni smiled. “Just like her mother.”
Another miniature Sakish pushed out of her shell as a refreshing breeze swept in the arched entryway. As that coolness touched the skin, the coolness of the iridescent green’s voice touched a mind parched by waiting. I am Esheth, Kyara.
In the background, another iridescent dragon moved cautiously out of his shell – brown like his sire. The shifting color of his hide was relaxing, perhaps, and the Zekiran Scam did not even flinch as the dragon closed in on him. “Delpeth…” he said softly. Somehow, Avatar managed to look disinterested.
In the shadows, something moved, a glint of light off the tip of an arrow. Lucifidth looked towards it, but his motion was unseen by the assassin as he sighted his target. There was brisk applause as a young man from Ryslen – Kelkerli, the son of watchrider Kerli, and half brother to the new Leader Ke’l – bonded a brilliant red from Sasiath’s clutch who was called Xhimboth. Jeyann stood to call her congratulations to him, and Rakield reached for the triggering mechanism on his crossbow. Something large and bronze filled his field of vision then, and Lucifidth snarled as the bolt struck deep into his shoulder. One slap of angry paw sent Rakield and his well polished weapon sprawling out into the sands where they could be seen. As the green dragon blood oozed out around the arrow, Lucifidth pinned a different candidate to the sands – and this one struggled more than Istin had.
A third iridescent green quietly made her way into the world, and joined the archangel Amoura. I am Obakaath… she murmured as her sister broke shell – backwards! White tail and hindquarters made way for purple. The Light purple shook her head clear and looked around. A young woman from Alskyr caught her eye.
Cecar, seated with her Light brown Quaritoth, had an I-told-you-so smirk on her face, and Quinn was speechless.
I love you Quinn. the Light purple purred.
”I love you too, Holrirosth.”
A bronze shook free of his shell and charged Lucifidth. Get your paws off my rider! he roared.
Lucifidth wasn’t bothered by the hatchling in the least, but Rakield was momentarily still. “What did you say Loreanasadeamhanuth?”
The bronze hatchling roared at the adult again. Let him go!
Lucifidth ignored the hatchling. Rakield would remain pinned, it seemed, impressed or not.
A red dragon snarled at his brother, then turned to an unusual candidate. A young man who was also a fox. The red approached carefully. I know what you did, Star.
”Tagmetath?” Star queried and the crimson beast nodded. I approve, you know.
An iridescent blue peeked out of his egg, and looked around. Could he possibly sneak up on…? The Znorlian candidate turned and winked at him, a definite ‘don’t even think about it’. Yditirth slunk out of his shell and tackled Zamner anyway.
The last two eggs of Saktishanatath’s clutch opened one after the other, spilling out a Light blue and a Light green. The blue chose Lavanjay, who wasn’t sure what he was, and the green chose Summoner, who was similarly odd.
”Her name is Avkeith.”
”His name is Zetruth.” They said at the same time.
That left one egg still rocking. It split and a classic bronze made his way into the world. You have waited a long time, my friend. I am sorry.
Istin looked to the bronze dragonet. “It’s not your fault, Ilybikyfth…”
After the sands were cleared of the newly impressed, the remaining candidates, and the spectators, Rakield was taken into custody and Lucifidth’s wounds were tended by the dragonhealers – and Loreanasadeamhanuth fussed and fumed the whole time.